Christian Barnard
Assistant Director of Education Reform, Reason Foundation
Christian Barnard is assistant director of education reform at Reason Foundation.
Barnard's work includes research and analysis of state education and school district finance systems, with the goal of making them more equitable and innovative.
Barnard's writing has been featured in outlets including USA Today, Los Angeles Daily News, Washington Times, and The Hill, among others.
Barnard previously worked with the Foundation for Government Accountability, where he conducted research on labor policy and criminal justice. He also worked for the Pioneer Institute.
He holds a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy and economics from Messiah College.
-
The Striking Achievement Disparities Between Boys and Girls in the Education System
The current pandemic-related adjustments could be providing significantly different learning environments in which many boys can thrive.
-
School Finance Systems Need to Fairly Accommodate Enrollment Trends, Not Ignore Them
Enrollment patterns play a big role in determining both school district operations and state education funding.
-
Teachers and Families Could Benefit From School Choice Reforms
School choice reforms could raise teacher pay, provide a check on top-down curriculum requirements and standardized testing, and give power back to educators and families.
-
“Nice White Parents” Podcast Series Highlights Real Public K-12 Failures—But Lets Government Off the Hook
While the podcast exposes concerning racial inequalities it fails to hold accountable the major culprits behind the unfair education system.
-
Three Things Policymakers Can Do to Improve School Finance Systems Right Now
There are practical and prudent steps policymakers can take to help schools support kids in the coming school year.
-
It Is Time to Fix Systemic Inequities in Education Funding
States and school systems must do away with the relationship between school funding and zip codes.
-
Economic Pain of COVID-19 Increases Need for School Finance Reform
Lawmakers need to embrace school finance reforms that boost equity and flexibility to ensure the looming economic pain is not being shouldered disproportionately by low-income students and communities.
-
How Michigan Can Avoid K-12 Budget Cuts Hurting the Highest-Need Students
Disadvantaged students — who are already the most vulnerable to economic uncertainty — shouldn’t also have to shoulder the most severe losses.
-
Three Ways to Ensure Education Funding Reaches the Students Who Need It Most
Three principles to guide education and stimulus spending during the coronavirus pandemic.
-
Evaluating the Effectiveness of the Federal K-12 Education Stimulus Spending of 2009
As the coronavirus pandemic continues and Congress considers another relief and stimulus bill, the lessons of past stimulus bills should inform spending and policy decisions.
-
The Economic Downturn Increases the Need to Reform School Finance Systems
Education has rapidly changed in the past two decades and school finance systems should be reformed to reflect these new dynamics.
-
What Will Happen to the Education System When the Coronavirus Pandemic Is Over?
While virtual learning may surge, hybrid models with in-person elements may work best.
-
The Covid-19 Economic Fallout Is Going to Hurt Education Budgets, Here’s What States Can Do to Protect Vulnerable Students
Leaders should learn from past mistakes and make school finance reforms to ensure that low-income and disadvantaged students aren’t disproportionately harmed.
-
Infographic: 3 Rules to Help School Finance Systems Impacted By Coronavirus
COVID-19 is prompting a harsh new fiscal reality for states and school districts. Here's what state and school district officials can do to adapt.
-
School Choice Is Disrupting Public School System—And That’s the Point
Blame school districts for the flaws they've allowed to fester, not parents for wanting better education for their kids.
-
How Competition From Charter Schools May Change Schools’ Budgeting Decisions
This study's results suggest that school choice competition could improve outcomes for students who remain in traditional public schools by affecting the allocation of scarce education dollars.
-
Rethinking Student Loans and Financial Aid Could Reduce the Cost of College and Student Debt
It’s hard to find another sector in which the market for loans is so unresponsive to return on investment than it is with student loans in higher education.
-
Sensible Education Reforms to Complement School Choice
Conservatives, libertarians and progressives all agree that tax dollars should be distributed fairly so that all students are treated equally and disadvantaged kids aren’t shortchanged.